Shoe-former or last.



Patented Ian. 23, 1900..

No. 641L905.

A; W; SUTHERLAND. SHOE FORMER 0R LAST.

(Application filed Apr. 3, 1899.)

No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED W. SUTHERLAND, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO I. G. SUTHERLAND & SONS, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE-FORMER OR LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,905, dated January 23, 1900.

Application filed April 3, 1899. Serial No. 711,480. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. SUTHER- LAND, of Haverhill, county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Shoe-Formers or Lasts, of which the following, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to means for use in boots and shoes whereby to expand and reshape the same after wearing and prevent the same from being crushed and wrinkled while not in use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a longitudinal section showing the last in combination with a shoe. Fig. 2 is a plan showing the last detached.

The former or fore-part last 2 is of the size and contour to fill the fore part of the 'shoe. The last is provided with a longitudinal bore 3, in which is set the screw-threaded nut 4, and in said nut is the correspondingly-screwthreaded rod 5. The part 6 is pivotally connected by one end to the rod 5, whereby to swing vertically. Said part 6 is of stamped metal and is molded to an oval shape rearwardly, whereby is formed the convexed end face 8, said face being conformable approximately to the curvature of the inner face or part of the shoe against which it is intended for bearing, so that in use it will become socketed in the shoe to prevent displacement. Said part 6 is further extended upwardly and forwardly, whereby is formed the take-hold 9.

In use thelast or fore part 2 is put into the shoe,and thereafter the part 6 is swung downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the last is pushed forwardly to fill out and reshape the shoe and is held under pressure by the part 6, said part being held against displacement by the convexed face 8, socketed in the shoe-heel.

By suitable operation of the rod 5 the device may be varied longitudinally, whereby to secure greater pressure in a given shoe or to adapt the device to shoes of different length. The device may be lifted and drawn from the shoe by the take-hold 9.

I claim- 1. A device for the purpose indicated comprising a fore-part last having a longitudinal bore therein, a nut rigidly secured in the bore, a threaded rod adjustable in the nut and a plate pivoted to the rod and bent at its outer end to conform to the interior surface of the heel of the shoe.

2. A device for the purpose indicated comprising a fore-part last having a longitudinal bore therein, a nut rigidly secured in the bore, a threaded rod adjustable in the nut, and a strip or plate pivoted to the rod and extending therefrom to the heel of the shoe, the rear end of this strip or plate bent into convex shape to conform approximately to the inner curvature of the heel and its extreme upper end bent forwardly to form the take-hold 9.

Signed by me at Haverhill, Massachusetts, this 16th day of March, 1899, in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED W. SUTHERLAND.

Witnesses:

DOLTON J. SUTHERLAND, ISRAEL G. SUTHERLAND. 

